Snack trends driving the latest launches revealed:
- Protein is moving beyond bars and shakes into guacamole, dips, meat snacks and frozen desserts.
- Pistachio, pumpkin and apple are returning in less predictable formats designed to refresh seasonal demand.
- Licensing, hybrid products and unusual serving formats are helping familiar brands generate fresh attention.
Snacking may be habitual, but today’s consumers are asking each purchase to do more. Mondelēz International’s 2026 State of Snacking report, developed with Mintel and Black Swan Data, found six in 10 consumers across key global markets snack at least once a day. That frequency creates more opportunities for manufacturers, but it also increases the pressure on every launch to earn its place in the basket.
Demand for protein is one of the strongest forces shaping the category. The International Food Information Council’s 2025 Food & Health Survey found 70% of Americans were trying to consume protein, up from 59% in 2022, while high-protein eating was the country’s most commonly followed dietary pattern for the third successive year. Developers are responding by adding the nutrient to products that previously sat well outside the sports nutrition fixture.
Consumers, however, haven’t abandoned indulgence while pursuing those nutritional benefits. Nearly half of Americans regularly seek out small treats and 62% regard them as a form of self-care, according to a Circana survey of more than 1,000 consumers. Portion-controlled frozen desserts, nostalgic confectionery and playful collaborations allow brands to offer an affordable reward while giving established formats a fresh reason to command attention.
Flavour cycles are moving faster as social media turns seasonal and regional favourites into international development cues. Pistachio’s online popularity rose 72% over the past year, according to Mondelēz, while bakery accounted for 15% of food and drink launches featuring the nut between July 2025 and June 2026. Yet flavour is only part of the current NPD contest, as brands are also crossing category lines, borrowing from entertainment and reworking familiar formats to create something recognisable but sufficiently different to merit the spend.
Protein escapes the bar and shake aisle
Insignia International, a privately held US producer focused on Hispanic and Southwestern foods, is taking the protein trend into refrigerated dips. The Denver company claims its new Yucatan and Cabo Fresh products are the guacamole category’s first protein-enhanced range.
Yucatan Protein Guacamole, Cabo Fresh Protein Singles and Cabo Fresh Protein Squeeze each deliver 5g of protein per 3oz serving. Fermentation-derived yeast protein raises the nutritional content without creating the gritty texture that can accompany protein fortification.
The cups and squeezable pouches are rolling out through Kroger, Target, Publix, Albertsons, Stop & Shop, Hy-Vee, Shaw’s, Raley’s and Smart & Final, with Giant Food following in December. Insignia expects the range to reach almost 8,000 US stores across more than 30 states by the end of 2026. Protein Squeeze products have an RRP of $6.99-$8.99, while three-packs of cups cost $5.99-$7.99.
Dippi is approaching the category from another direction. The Finnish-inspired powder is mixed into 100g of plain or Greek yoghurt, although consumers can also use sour cream or cream cheese. The unopened mix can remain in the cupboard for months and keeps refrigerated for up to three days once prepared.
Tomato and Chilli, Sour Cream and Dill, and Cheddar and Onion will launch in the UK in January 2027. Founder Miia Paavola is raising £200,000 through Kickstarter pre-sales and private investment to fund production, marketing and the commercial rollout.
Wenzel’s Farm has downsized its Wenzel’s Pro Snack Sticks into a 1oz format containing 8g of protein. Original and Teriyaki are available individually from 24-count display caddies or in 10-count bags, giving the Wisconsin meat-snack producer a smaller alternative to its 1.9oz sticks.
Iqbar’s Blueberry and Strawberry PB&J Protein Bites are expanding into 1,700 Walmart stores across the US. Each gluten-free bite contains 5g of plant protein, 5g of fibre and 1g of sugar, alongside magnesium, lion’s mane, vitamin E, MCTs and flavonoids. The bites are sold in 10-count bags.
Yasso is widening its Spoonables frozen Greek yoghurt range with three dessert-inspired flavours. Strawberry Cheesecake combines cream cheese, strawberry purée and graham cracker crumbs, while Pecan Praline pairs vanilla frozen yoghurt with brown sugar and candied pecans. Key Lime Pie contains key lime purée, white chocolate-flavoured flakes and a graham cracker swirl. All three deliver 18g of protein per 14oz container and are available nationwide at Target in the US.
Seasonal flavours find less predictable formats
Oreo has tapped into the UAE’s appetite for pistachio with limited-edition Pistash-Yo. The sandwich biscuit combines the brand’s familiar chocolate-flavoured shells with a cream made using real pistachios and is available across the UAE.
Trubar’s limited-edition Pumpkin Spice, Spice Baby bar brings autumn flavour to plant-based protein snacking. Each bar contains 12g of protein and 13g of fibre and is vegan, gluten free, dairy free and soy free. It’s available through Amazon and Trubar’s website.
Iqbar has also returned to pumpkin with its limited-edition Pumpkin Spice Iqbar and Iqjoe, available through the company’s website. The seasonal relaunch coincides with redesigned Iqbar packaging that places greater emphasis on the fibre content of its products.
Bubbies has turned pumpkin pie into a frozen, bite-sized format. Its limited-edition Pumpkin Pie Drizzled Mochi Ice Cream wraps cinnamon, nutmeg and clove-spiced ice cream in soft mochi and finishes it with a whipped cream-flavoured drizzle. Each piece contains 100 calories.
Six-piece boxes are available for $6.99-$7.99 through selected Harmons, Quality Food Centers, New Seasons, Associated Food Stores, Albertsons and Safeway locations, as well as Bubbies’ website.
That’s it. is backing apple and cinnamon across three shelf-stable formats. Cinnamon Fruitola Fruit Granola contains four ingredients, 12g-16g of plant protein and 5g-7g of fibre per serving. Apple + Cinnamon Fiber Fruit Bars come in full-size, mini and fun-size versions, while Apple + Cinnamon Fruit Crunchables offer a crisp snack made with one or two ingredients. The range is available through Amazon, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods Market, Costco and other US retailers.
Wonka, boba and bagels turn up the theatre
Paris Baguette’s Dancing with the Stars collaboration has produced two limited-edition US drinks. The Mirrorball Iced Croissant Latte combines croissant flavour, Lavazza espresso and milk, while the Mirrorball Iced Croissant Matcha uses ceremonial-grade matcha. Both are topped with a mini croissant and available at Paris Baguette cafés nationwide.
Ferrero is bringing Wonka back to UK confectionery with six products built around distinctive shapes, fillings and flavours. Magic Hats combine chocolate shells with Caramellion, Chocolonka, Magenta Elixir and Choco Fizz fillings and cost £7.65, while the milk chocolate Oompa Loompa hollow figure is priced at £4.50.
The £3.75 Purplypurple Milk Chocolate Bar contains a purple caramel-flavoured milky filling. Magic Garden lime ropes with a lemon centre and Oompa Loompa Gummies combining blueberry and strawberry flavours with a berry-cola filling each cost £2.30. A £1.60 Wonka Kinder Joy Egg completes the range with cocoa and milk creams, wafer bites and collectable toys.
The full range has launched at Morrisons and Asda and will be followed by a broader UK and Ireland rollout, including Tesco from October.
Popcorn Kitchen is flying high after securing a British Airways listing for its Salted Caramel popcorn. The product will be served as a long-haul snack to First and Business Class passengers from September.
New York Bakery is entering frozen food with Little Italy Margherita, Brooklyn Deli Ham & Mozzarella and Manhattan Pepperoni Melt Stuffed Pizza Bagels. Developed with Food Brands Now, the products take the brand’s boiled and stone-baked bagel format into convenient hot meals and snacks. They launched in 497 Tesco stores at £3.50.
Ginsters has introduced a limited-edition 180g Beef & Ale Pasty using British beef, Cornish ale and locally sourced potatoes, onions and carrots in gravy encased in puff pastry. Priced at £2.25, it’s available initially at Co-op before rolling out more widely across the UK.
LesserEvil’s Cheezmos Puffs bring a lighter texture to the US brand’s cheese-snack line. Cowgirl Cheddar uses organic cheddar, while Jalapeño Cheddar adds a spicier edge. Both contain 130 calories per serving and are made without seed oils, artificial dyes or preservatives. They’re available at Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Kroger and other US retailers for $5.99.
Kung Fu Tea and Pudgy Penguins are pairing boba with character licensing at participating Kung Fu Tea locations across the US. Pengu’s Better Together Milk Tea combines Earl Grey milk tea with brown sugar boba, while Polly’s Sweetheart Slush blends strawberry with an Oreo topping. The drinks launch ahead of New York Comic Con and will be joined by Pudgy Penguins Little Treats blind boxes from 1-15 October.
